THE PEACH. 175 



it in preference to all others. The mode of practising 

 it is as follows : 



When the shoots of the successive branch extensions 

 (fig. 154) have attained a length of about three inches, 

 suppress only the buds behind, then the double or 

 treble buds, so as to have only one bud at each 

 point. The front buds must be preserved. At the 



Fig. 154. First Pinching of Shoots. 



same time, these buds must be vigorously pinched off 

 by the nail at A (fig. 154), above two of the lower 

 leaves that are well developed. We do not count the 

 small partially developed leaves, B, which often form 

 a rosette at the lower part of the shoot. 



